1. Rapid immobilisation of chemical reactions in alkali-activated materials using solely microwave irradiationAnže Tesovnik, Barbara Horvat, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Efflorescence, a time-dependent and water-driven phenomenon, is a major concern inalkali-activated materials (AAMs), impacting their practical use and preservation in a time-frozen state for post-characterisation. Although a method for stopping chemical reactions in conventional cements exists, it is time-consuming and not chemical-free. Therefore, this study explored the effects of low-power microwave-induced dehydration on efflorescence, mechanical performance, and structural integrity in AAMs, to create an alternative and more “user-friendly” dehydration method. For this purpose, several mixtures based on secondary raw (slag, fly ash, glass wool, and rock wool) and non-waste (metakaolin) materials were activated with a commercial Na-silicate solution in ratios that promoted or prevented efflorescence. Characterisation techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, showed that microwave dehydration effectively removed water without altering crystallinity, while mercury intrusion porosimetry and compressive strength tests confirmed increased porosity. In addition to being an efficient, time-saving, and solvent-free manner of stopping the reactions in AAMs, microwave irradiation emerged as an innovative, chemical-free method for evaluating curing finalisation and engineering foams in a stage when all other existing methods fail. However, the artificially provoked efflorescence in aged dehydrated AAMs connected the slipperiness of AAM with the instant extraction of Na, which raised the need for further research into alternative alkali replacements to evaluate the practical use of AAM. Ključne besede: materials chemistry, alkali-activated materials, geopolymers, slag, fly ash, rock wool, glass wool, metakaolin, microwave irradiation, dehydration, stopping chemical reactions, efflorescence Objavljeno v DiRROS: 23.12.2024; Ogledov: 165; Prenosov: 75 Celotno besedilo (11,10 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... Gradivo je zbirka in zajema 1 gradivo! |
2. Dehydration with microwave irradiationAnže Tesovnik, Barbara Horvat, 2024, zaključena znanstvena zbirka raziskovalnih podatkov Povzetek: The dataset supports the results shown in the tables and figures in the article entitled “Rapid immobilisation of chemical reactions in alkali-activated materials using solely microwave irradiation” (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/min14121219). It contains measurements of mechanical and structural evaluation, as well as chemical and mineralogical analysis. Ključne besede: measurments, alkali-activated materials, geopolymers, slag, fly ash, rock wool, glass wool, metakaolin, microwave irradiation, dehydration, stopping of chemical reactions, efflorescence Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.08.2024; Ogledov: 197; Prenosov: 11422 Raziskovalni podatki (4,87 MB) |
3. Green transition in slovenian building and civil engineering industry : 10 years of research on alkali-activated materials and alkali-activated foamsBarbara Horvat, Branka Mušič, 2024, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci (vabljeno predavanje) Povzetek: The building and civil engineering industry yearly causes more than 40% of man-made CO2 and consumes raw materials for two-thirds of Mont Everest. To decrease the carbon footprint and consumption of raw materials, alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are researched as an alternative to conventional building and civil engineering products like cements, mortar, and ceramics. Ideally, locally available waste materials are used as ingredients: (i) as precursors that react with alkali and form an aluminosilicate network, and (ii) as fillers that get permanently encapsulated and safely stored in AAMs. The addition of gas bubbles and lightweight fillers transforms AAMs into alkali-activated foams and alkali-activated lightweight materials that have the potential to be used as thermal and acoustic insulation materials. Although AAMs are researched worldwide, this review focuses on the state-of-the-art localised solely to Slovenia, particularly on the materials and curing procedures used, as well as on the scientific contribution of the basic research. Besides, the year 2024 marks 10 years of research on alkali activation of raw and waste inorganic materials in Slovenia. Ključne besede: secondary raw material, alkali-activated material, alkali-activated foams, alkali, circular economy, microwave irradiation, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.03.2024; Ogledov: 603; Prenosov: 479 Celotno besedilo (84,58 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. Influence of ammonium polyphosphates and 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine on the mechanical-physical properties of polyurethane and alkali-activated materialsBranka Mušič, Barbara Horvat, 2024, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Povzetek: In building constructions, the tendency towards an ever-better material directs us to composite materials. In this work, we prepared an organic-organic and organic-inorganic composite material by incorporating fire retardants, ammonium polyphosphates, and 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine, into a polyurethane network and an aluminosilicate network (ASN) of alkali-activated material. Polyurethane foams (PUR) are well-known materials that, due to their properties, such as low weight-to-strength ratio, low electrical and thermal conductivity, flexibility, and relatively simple preparation process, are used in various industries, also in the construction industry, e.g., for thermal insulation of windows and doors or fixing and sealing joinery. Opposite, the ASN of alkali-activated metakaolin, successfully paves the way for new applications, such as high-temperature protection. In this paper, these interactive properties of prepared composites are studied using thermal testing and mechanical analysis. It was found that inhibitors significantly increase the fire resistance of PUR systems while they slightly reduce the mechanical properties. Incorporating polymer flame retardant into ASN in building products, such as façade panels , can decrease the mechanical properties but can offer the non-flammable building envelope not get heated from burning surroundings, i.e., not becoming a convection heat source, but rather represent a fire-distinguisher for flammable materials. Ključne besede: flame retardants, polyurethane, alkali activated material, metakaolin, microwave irradiation, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.03.2024; Ogledov: 678; Prenosov: 487 Celotno besedilo (2,52 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Waste rubber incorporated in the alkali-activated metakaolin’s aluminosilicate network enhanced by microwave irradiationBarbara Horvat, Branka Mušič, 2024, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Povzetek: Building materials represent the possibility of prolonging the life of waste materials. The key is to ensure that the products are suitable for their function. So we activated metakaolin with the alkaline Na-silicate solution in the ratio that ensures the prevention of efflorescence and high mechanical strength (Horvat and Ducman, 2019). As the waste material (to be incorporated in the aluminosilicate network (ASN) of the alkali-activated metakaolin) ground waste rubber from electric cables was used in the preselected mass ratios. Its inclusion in products, like paving stones, can reduce stiffness, improve durability, dampen vibrations, and reduce road noise. The mechanical strengths of test samples with rubber present on the active surface or slightly below were higher compared to samples where rubber was encapsulated throughout the volume. Compressive strength was higher when samples were irradiated with low powers of microwaves while irradiation with higher powers led to the foaming of alkali-activated slurry. The encapsulation quality of the ground rubber was evaluated by SEM while the chemical influence on ASN was determined by EDS, FTIR, and XRD. Slipperiness change on the active surface of pavement stones proved that the addition of the ground rubber enhanced the walking safety of the product. Ključne besede: secondary raw material, alkali activated material, waste rubber, metakaolin, encapsulation of organic in inorganic material, microwave irradiation, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.03.2024; Ogledov: 965; Prenosov: 572 Celotno besedilo (13,99 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
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8. Thermal insulation and flammability of composite waste polyurethane foam encapsulated in geopolymer for sustainable building envelopeBarbara Horvat, Nataša Knez, Uroš Hribar, Jakob Koenig, Branka Mušič, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Polyurethane foam (PUR) is a lightweight, thermally insulating, widely used, and highly flammable material that has after its use an adverse effect on the environment, i.e., PUR disposal is considered hazardous. Its flammability can be mitigated using various fire retardants, but they do not change the hazardous nature of waste PUR. Therefore, in the current study, waste PUR with and without flame retardants based on N and P was incorporated into a geopolymer, the alkali-activated material (AAM) based solely on metakaolin, to evaluate the potential recycling route of waste PUR while taking into account its flammability, so it can enter safely into the circular economy through the building industry. To enhance the mechanical properties of the composite, a fresh mixture was irradiated with microwaves. However, the irradiation of geopolymer containing PUR negatively influenced mechanical performance, which led to the evaluation of the behaviour of the complex dielectric constant of PUR and fire retardants. Materials and composites were evaluated regarding their chemistry, mineralogy, microstructure, and porosity to connect the structure with extrinsic properties like geometrical density, thermal conductivity, and fire properties. Nonetheless, positive influences of PUR being encapsulated in the geopolymer were lowered density (from 1.8 to 1.6 kg/l) and improved thermal insulation ability (from 940 to 860 mW/(m·K)) of the composites: with the inclusion of <5 % of PUR, thermal insulation improved by nearly 10 %. However, the contribution of PUR to the composite originated from its skeleton, which has more than 15 times bigger geometrical density (0.81 kg/l) compared to the density of the skeleton (0.047 kg/l). This offers an open field for further advancements of thermal properties, but would also lead to a decrease of the compressive strength, which was already lowered from 90 MPa for 30 % with <5 % of added grated PUR. Furthermore, the flammable nature of PUR and its other drawbacks can be controlled by permanent embedding in the noncombustible structure of geopolymer, making the envelope of sustainable buildings green and safer. Overall, including grated waste PUR in geopolymer represents a promising, easy, cost-effective recycling path with low energy consumption, where the composite cannot develop fire on a scale of pure PUR, even in the worst-case scenario, but only if the composite is designed in a way, that flammable materials cannot join flames during their combustion. This paper gives prospects to other flammable waste materials to be safely used in the circular economy, and to porous materials to shape properties of the composite by their intrinsic and/or extrinsic properties. Ključne besede: waste polyurethane foam, polymeric flame retardants, alkali activated material, metakaolin, microwave irradiation, thermal-fire behaviour, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.03.2024; Ogledov: 1010; Prenosov: 917 Celotno besedilo (29,74 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. Foundry wastes as a potential precursor in alkali activation technologyBarbara Horvat, Alenka Sešek Pavlin, Vilma Ducman, 2020, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Povzetek: In this study the amount of amorphous phase of elements useful in alkali activation of waste materials produced by the foundry industry was determined. Waste foundry sands, foundry flue gas and waste casting cores were alkali activated, and waste green ceramics and bottom ash were added to one of the foundry sand samples to shorten the time for producing measurable compressive strength from 1.5 years to 1 week. Ključne besede: alkali activated materials, foundry wastes, compressive strength, upcycling, circular ecnomy Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.03.2024; Ogledov: 558; Prenosov: 418 Povezava na datoteko Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. PUR in geopolymerBarbara Horvat, Nataša Knez, Uroš Hribar, Jakob Koenig, Branka Mušič, 2024, zaključena znanstvena zbirka raziskovalnih podatkov Povzetek: The dataset supports the results shown in the tables and figures in the article entitled “Thermal insulation and flammability of composite waste polyurethane foam encapsulated in geopolymer for sustainable building envelope” (doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141387). It contains measurements of fire-behaviour characteristics, thermal conductivity, the behaviour of the material in the electromagnetic field in relation to the frequency, mechanical and structural evaluation, as well as chemical and mineralogical analysis. Ključne besede: measurements, waste polyurethane foam, polymeric flame retardants, alkali activated material, metakaolin, microwave irradiation, thermal-fire behaviour, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 20.02.2024; Ogledov: 867; Prenosov: 311 Raziskovalni podatki (2,51 MB) Gradivo je zbirka in zajema 1 gradivo! |